Trick or Treat with the Mayor in support of the Ottawa Food Bank’s Baby Supply Cupboard

Trick-or-Treat with the Mayor will be a spook-tacular evening for everyone and is a wonderful opportunity for local families to help others by donating essential food and supplies to the Baby Supply Cupboard.

The evening starts with trick-or-treating through the haunted house in the Heritage Building, followed by a special welcome from the Mayor and sweet treats from costumed characters in Jean Pigott Place. Children can decorate their very own pumpkin in the outdoor pumpkin patch on Marion Dewar Plaza, and enjoy horse-drawn hayrides and more treats from our sponsors.

The Baby Supply Cupboard helps parents in need by providing items in high demand such as non-perishable baby food, formula, cereals, diapers and wipes. Chronic shortages of donations of these basic needs make stocking the Baby Supply Cupboard one of the Food Bank’s most expensive, but most precious priorities.

Admission to the Halloween party is a donation to the Baby Supply Cupboard. For more information, visitottawa.ca or call 3-1-1.

Please note: The Elgin Street entrance to the Heritage Building will be closed due to construction to improve access for people with disabilities as per the regulations contained within the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Trick or Treaters are asked to use the special Halloween party entrance located on the Lisgar Street side of the Heritage Building.If you require accessibility-related accommodation, please call 3-1-1.

Flu vaccine now available across Ottawa

The seasonal flu vaccine is now available from participating physicians and health care providers throughout the city. Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has distributed 73,630 doses of the influenza vaccine to these local vaccine providers and will begin offering its annual clinics on October 27.

“It’s important to remember that anyone can get the flu. As protection against the flu virus, we encourage every resident to get their flu vaccine and to take other precautions such as hand washing and staying home when you are sick,” said Dr. Isra Levy, Medical Officer of Health. “The flu vaccine is safe and is the most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu. I invite residents to talk to their health care provider about the vaccine or attend a free vaccination OPH community clinic starting October 27 through to December 15.”

This year, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care provided three strains of influenza vaccines for distribution, including the 2009 H1N1 strain, the influenza A/H3N2 strain, and an influenza B strain.OPH will receive enough vaccine for every resident who wishes to be immunized.

Ottawa residents have several easy options for getting the flu vaccine, including:

Through their physician or local health care provider

At one of the OPH clinics across Ottawa. For a complete list of these clinics, go toottawa.ca/flu

At a workplace immunization clinic

In addition to getting the flu vaccine, it is important that you take these precautions to keep yourself and your families healthy:

Wash your hands often with soap and water, or hand sanitizer

Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your arm, not your hand

Stay at home if you are sick

Physicians and local health care providers can register for the flu vaccine program by visitingottawa.ca/flu, by emailing vaccine@ottawa.ca or by calling Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656).

Some Ottawa pharmacies will be offering the influenza vaccine this flu season – check with your local pharmacy to inquire about possible dates and times.

The most current information about clinic schedules is available online at ottawa.ca/flu. You can also connect with OPH on Facebook and Twitter (@ottawahealth).